# Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (MFAI)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/24-569-mathematical-foundations-of-artificial-intelligence-mfai/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/353936

> U.S. National Science Foundation offered grants of up to $1.5 million (at least $500,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make $8.5 million in total. Applications closed on October 9, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | 24-569 |
| Agency | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | October 9, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $1.5 million |
| Award floor | $500,000 |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | $8.5 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 47.041, 47.049, 47.070, 47.075 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. *Who May Serve as PI: As of the date the proposal is submitted, any PI, co-PI, or senior/key personnel must hold either: a tenured or tenure-track position, or a primary, full-time, paid appointment in a research or teaching position at a US-based campus of an organization eligible to submit to this solicitation (see above), with exceptions granted for family or medical leave, as determined by the submitting organization. Individuals with primary appointments at for-profit non-academic organizations or at overseas branch campuses of U.S. institutions of higher education are not eligible.

## What the grant funds

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are enabling extraordinary scientific breakthroughs in fields ranging from protein folding, natural language processing, drug synthesis, and recommender systems to the discovery of novel engineering materials and products. These achievements lie at the confluence of mathematics, statistics, engineering and computer science, yet a clear explanation of the remarkable power and also the limitations of such AI systems has eluded scientists from all disciplines. Critical foundational gaps remain that, if not properly addressed, will soon limit advances in machine learning, curbing progress in artificial intelligence. It appears increasingly unlikely that these critical gaps can be surmounted with increased computational power and experimentation alone. Deeper mathematical understanding is essential to ensuring that AI can be harnessed to meet the future needs of society and enable broad scientific discovery, while forestalling the unintended consequences of a disruptive technology. The National Science Foundation Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Engineering (ENG), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) will jointly sponsor research collaborations consisting of mathematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, engineers, and social and behavioral scientists focused on the mathematical and theoretical foundations of AI. Research activities should focus on the most challenging mathematical and theoretical questions aimed at understanding the capabilities, limitations, and emerging properties of AI methods as well as the development of novel, and mathematically grounded, design and analysis principles for the current and next generation of AI approaches.

## Questions people ask

### Is NSF 24-569 still open?

No. It closed on October 9, 2026.

### Who can apply for Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (MFAI)?

U.S. National Science Foundation accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (MFAI)?

Closed October 9, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $1.5 million each. About $8.5 million in total.

### Who has won Engineering grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Georgia Tech Research Corp, Purdue University, Regents of the University of Michigan. The program made 11,244 awards worth $4.3 billion in that time.